Improvement in metallic cartridges



Patented June t3, 1871.

T. J. POWERS.A

Improvement in Metallic Cartridges.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY J. POWERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC CARTRIDGES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY J. PowEns, of the city, count-y, and Stateof New York, have' invented a new and useful Improvement inCartridge-Cases for Breech-Loading Guns, of which the following is aspecitication, reference being had to accompanying drawing forming partthereof, in which- Figure l is a central sectional view of a set ot'tools that may be used in making the butt of my improved cartridge-case,which is shown in a position ready to receive the butt for the purposeof crimping on a metallic gas-check. Fig. 2 is a view, partly insection, of a cartridge-case, with a metallic gas-check placed upon thebutt ready to be introduced into and operated on by the tools, Fig. l.Fig. 3 is a similar view ofthe same tools and cartridgecase after thespring-die has been closed down upon the butt of the case and thegas-check has been thereby fastened on. Fig. 4 is a face view of the endof said tools when in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a circularpiece of metal designed for a gascheck on the butt ofthe cartridge-case.Fig. 6 is a central sectional view of the same piece of metal cupped uppreparatory to being placed upon the butt of the case. Fig. 7 is a view,partly in section, of acartridge-case ready to receive the gas-check,Fig. 6. A

The nature ot' my invention -consists in applying and fastening agas-check, formed of a y thin plate of metal, to the exterior surface ofthe butt of a cartridge-case having an annular projecting base, and thathas a perforation made through the butt for the purpose of effectin g acenter priming.

When the butt of a cartridge-case is perforated for the purpose ofpriming it (which is usually done when the priming is placed in thecenter of the butt) there is always a liability to an escape of gas onfiring the cartridge in a gun.

To obviate this liability I apply a gas-check to the external surface ofthebutt in the following manner: I cut, from a thin sheet of copper orother suitable metal, a disk, Fig. 5, a little larger in diameter thanthe cartridgebutt. This disk is first, by a proper punchl and die, bentinto the shape shown in Fig. 6. It is then placed upon the butt of acartridgecase having an annular projecting base, Fig. 7, as seen in Fig.2, A.

In this figure, Ais the eartrdgcfease, made and centenprimed in theordinary manner. B is a supportingpunch, inserted into the case; and athe gas-check. The case, punch, and gas-check are to be carried up` intothe sectional spring-die O until the gas-check is brought into contactwith the lower end ofthe center mandrel E. This spring-die0 is dividedat the lower end into several sections, e, the divisions extending upfar enough to permit each section to act as a spring, being bent alittle outward, thus separating the sections so as to admit the buttofthe case with its gascheck (t. An annular groove, c, is made in thelinner face of the die, and the butt of the case is inserted just farenough to bring the projecting base ofthe butt ofthe case into the planeof this groove. The socket D is then forced downward, the iiaring mouthd acting against the inclined projection c of the end of the die O,forcing the sections inward and bringing them into the position shown inFig. 3, thus bending the rim of the gas-check a over the projecting baseg of the butt of the case and securely and neatly fastening it on. Thesocket D is then forced upward, the sections G separate, and the case isremoved with the gas-cheek applied and securely attached.

I am aware that cartridge-cases have been made having two thicknesses ofmetal in the butt, but in all such cartridge-cases known to me either ametal cup is inserted within the case proper, for the purposes of ananvil or to re-enforce the butt, or the closed end of the case, madewithout an annular projection around the base, is inserted into aregularlyformed second case, difteringfrom the first, itat all, only inbeing shorter and having a flanged or projecting base. I do not claimeither of these forms of double-headed cartridge-cases; but

W'hat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

A center-re cartridge-case, having the butt perforated for the purposeof priming, when there is combined with it a gas-check that is formedand applied and fastened to the butt of the case as described,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

TIMOTHY J. POWERS.

Witnesses P. ODEA, G. V. MULLIGAN.

